drizzle

[driz-uh l] /ˈdrɪz əl/
verb (used without object), drizzled, drizzling.
1.
to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle:
It drizzled throughout the night.
2.
to fall in fine drops.
verb (used with object), drizzled, drizzling.
3.
to rain or let fall in fine drops; sprinkle:
He drizzled honey over the fruit.
4.
to pour in a fine stream:
Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.
noun
5.
a very light rain.
6.
Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 1/50 (0.02) inch (0.5 mm).
Origin
1535-45; perhaps back formation from dryseling, dissimilated variant of Middle English drysning fall (of dew); akin to Old English drēosan to fall; cognate with Old Saxon driosan, Gothic driusan
Related forms
drizzly, adverb
Examples from the web for drizzle
  • Within minutes the clouds lowered, lightning lit the ridges above us, and a pounding rain replaced drizzle.
  • drizzle oil over diced bread and sprinkle with salt.
  • drizzle the olive oil over the pumpkin seeds and then sprinkle them with salt.
  • drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top and season with salt and pepper.
  • drizzle and brush olive oil on the top, then use the brush to evenly coat the dough.
  • Add a drizzle of oil and a small sprinkling of vinegar and salt.
  • Some of the locals swear that the past months have been the wettest they remember, with drizzle or worse almost every day.
  • But the rains also could have been nothing more than a widespread drizzle.
  • The empty-looking open cells occur when closed-cell clouds begin to produce a light drizzle.
  • But your argument is wafer thin to the point that a light drizzle of reality makes it dissolve.
British Dictionary definitions for drizzle

drizzle

/ˈdrɪzəl/
noun
1.
very light rain, specifically consisting of droplets less than 0.5 mm in diameter
verb
2.
(intransitive) to rain lightly
3.
(transitive) to moisten with tiny droplets
Derived Forms
drizzly, adjective
Word Origin
Old English drēosan to fall; related to Old Saxon driosan, Gothic driusan, Norwegian drjōsa
Word Origin and History for drizzle
v.

1540s, perhaps an alteration of drysning "a falling of dew" (c.1400), from Old English -drysnian, related to dreosan "to fall," from PIE root *dhreu- (see drip (v.)). Or perhaps a frequentative of Middle English dresen "to fall," from Old English dreosan. Related: Drizzled; drizzling. As a noun, from 1550s.

Slang definitions & phrases for drizzle

drizzle

noun

drip (1930s+)


Encyclopedia Article for drizzle

very small, numerous water drops that may appear to float while being carried by air currents; drizzle drops generally have diameters between about 0.2 and 0.5 millimetre (0.008 and 0.02 inch). Smaller ones are usually cloud or fog droplets, while larger drops are called raindrops. Drizzle often is accompanied by fog but differs from it because drizzle drops fall to the ground. Drizzle commonly falls from stratus clouds. See also rain.

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